Machine for manufacturing veneer cylinders



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. CHRISTIE.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING VENEER CYLINDERS.

No. 436,625. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. CHRISTIE. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING VENEER CYLINDERS.

No. 436,625. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. CHRISTIE, OF BROOKLYN, NEWVYYORK.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING VENEER CYLINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,625, dated September 16, 1890. Application filed August 22, 1889. $eria1 No. 321,645- (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

furnished with one or more heads for use as bottle-casings, packages for containing groceries, and for other purposes.

The invention embraces a flexible apron for supporting and bending the veneer or other material to be formed into a. cylinder, a forming-cylinder anda clamping-bar of novel construction and arrangement, and novel mechanisms for operating the various parts of the device, all of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is. an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view with formingcylinder and certain otherparts removed and parts broken away to exhibit other parts. Fig. 4: is an enlarged side elevation of formingcylinder and clamping-ban Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on line X X, Fig. 4.

In the drawings, A represents the machineframe so constructed that slots or open slides a are formed in its sides near the top.

Two bars 13 B are extended transversely across the frame parallel to each other, with their ends engaged in the slots at, so that they may be easily moved to and from each other. Shoulders b are formed near the ends of these bars 13, as best seen in Fig. 3, and to these are fastened lugs b, whose free ends, extend ing slightly beyond the inner edges of the respective bars, serve as supports for rods 6 upon which are secured the respective ends of a flexible apron O that is preferably made of thin sheet metal.

The main shaft D is fixed transversely across the frame A, in suitable j ournal-boxes c, and secured on each end of this shaft D, and at right angles thereto is an arm D and to the extremity of each arm is pivoted an upright rod D connecting it by means of a pin a with a compound lever D, whose side members a are pivoted 011 the sides of the frame A, as shown at 0 Figs. 1 and 2. The pins 0 are respectively engaged in upright slotted plates D D that are fastened on the frame sides, as shown, so that they may move only in vertical lines. These side members 0 of the compound levers D are pivoted to the frame A, as shown at 0 and have their lower ends slotted, as shown at 0 and in these slotsare engaged the thumb-screws c, that serve to connect therewith the other members of the said levers, so that by adjusting and setting the said thumb-screws up or down in these slots 0 the throw of the levers D may be increased or diminished, as may be required. The upper ends of these side members of these levers D are also provided with slots 07, which receive and hold the studs 0 that project from the ends of the bars B B.

. On moving a lever or handle E, secured on an end of the shaft D, in one direction, the bars B are, through the action of shaft 1D and compound levers D thrown apart, as shown in Fig. 1,with the apron O stretched between them, and on moving the said lever E in the opposite direction the bars B are brought as closely together as desirable, as best seen in Fig. 3, so that the apron O bellies or hangs down to its fullest extent.

Another part of the machine consists of a vertically-movable frame F composed of two upright and one transverse rod dd d respectively. This frame F is secured in place by entering the rods d cl through lugs d that extend inward from the frame A, and in the upper end of the rod d is engaged the end of a counterbalance-rod ad which extends upward and carries a weight d on its top.

Rigidly fixed on the main shaft D are a clutch G and a collar G, and loosely held thereon is a fork G whose extending forks I length bear upon the lap or seam of the veembrace the transverse rod (1 of the frame F, and a spring G coiled about the shaft D, between the collar G and fork G holds the latter normally in engagement with the clutch G. Ona transverse timber of the frame A is secured a stop G having a sloping face, against which the shank of the fork G is designed to sometimes make contact when the machine is in operation, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The forming-cylinder H is made in two longitudinal sections hinged together at the ends, as shown at f, Fig. 5, and end straps f f serve to further secure and hold the sections together, slots f in the strap ends permitting ,a slight separation of the sections from each other, if desirable, and in order to force and hold the said sections slightly apart to expand or increase the diameter of the cylinder, whenv desirable, a wedge f is set longitudinally in a corresponding groove in the said cylinder and may be driven farther in for that purpose. On each end of this cylinder H is secured a spring-plate g, each one having a perforation g in its free end, as indicated in Figs. 4; and 5, and a pin g protrudes from one end of said cylinder, the functions of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The clamping-bar O is preferably composed of twopieces of plank or timber set longitudinally atop of each other and firmly clamped together at the ends, and these two sections of the bar are slightly forced apart centrally by awedge h, that may be adjusted as desired, so that said bar shall for its whole neer cylinder in process of manufacture, and the under face of said bar is slightly grooved longitudinally, as indicated in Fig. 6, to conform with the curve of the cylinder H.

Forked clamps P (best seen in Figs. 4 and 5) are loosely fitted in the grooves made around the ends of the bar 0, so that said bar may be moved up and down in them, and between the upright forks of these clamps. are pivoted eccentric-cams m, provided with handles m, by which latter the eccentrics may be turned to press the said bar down or to release it, as the case may be, and the lower ends of these clamps are hooked to enter corresponding holes in the ends of the springplates 9 on the cylinder ends.

The parts being in position shown in Fig. 1, with the apron Oopen or extended and the frame F thrown up to its highest point, a

'piece of veneer or other material designed to be formed into acontaining cylinder or drum is laid on the apron O. A forming-cylinder H, with the clamping-bar O in place thereon,

(the cams on being turned to permit the bar 0 to be withdrawn or raised as far as possible from the cylinder 11,) as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is then put in position on the sheet of ye neer, with its pin g engaged in the hooked upper end of the rod d, and with the horizontal end of the counterbalance rod 01 engaged in a corresponding hole (best shown at 01 Fig. 5) in the opposite end of said cylinder. Power is then applied to the lever or handle E, with the effect of simultaneously approaching the bars 13 toward each other, thereby bellying the apron C and pulling down the forming-cylinder H and holding it firmly upon the sheet of veneer. As the bars B are approached to each other, the apron 0 draws the sheet of veneer taut around the cylinder H, which latter is still being pulled down. The ends of theveneer sheet, previouslycoated with glue where they are designed to lap, are by the action of the apron then bent over the cylinder, so that they enter between the top of said cylinder and the clamping-bar O, which latter is then forced and held down to clamp upon the lapping seam of the veneerdrurn by properly, turning the cams on. As

the apron Oexerts its pressure firstupon the central longitudinal point of the sheet of veneer being operated upon, which pressure gradually extends therefrom equally up to-- ward both ends of said sheet, it is evident that the veneer cylinder or drum when complete will have a surface free from wrinklesor blisters. Just prior, however, to the completed movement of the bars B B,.as soon as they have reached points perpendicular to the periphery of the cylinder H, the shank of the fork G in turning down makes con tact with the inclined plane of the stop G and is thereby thrown out of engagement with the clutch G, so that the continuedrevo lution of the main shaft, which causes the bars B to more nearly approach each other, ceases to pull down the cylinder H through the medium of the frame F, for it is obviously requisite that the downward movement of the-cylinder H should cease before the formation of'theveneer-drum is completed. When a veneerdrum or cylinder'is thus formed and firmly clamped to a cylinder H by a bar 0, the operator reverses the lever E, and thus'separates the bars B to their fullest extent. Then he disengages the cylinder-pin g from the rod d, and as soon as this end of said cylinder is thus freed the counterbalance-rod and weight 61 d operate to tilt up the freed end of said cylinder. Then the operator withdraws said cylinder, clamping banand veneer-drum together from the end of the rod (1 and puts them aside for the glue on'the drum to harden, and then puts another sheet of veneer upon the apron and secures another cylinder H and clamping-bar, with auxiliaries, inpositionv for the formation of another drum.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A machine for manufacturing veneer cylinders, constructed substantially as herein shown and described containin g the following elements: A flexible apron held by and between two horizontally=movable bars, a formin g cylinder, containing an expanding wedge, formed of two half round sections hinged together, a clamping-bar arranged and adapted to be vertically expanded, mechanisms for holding the clamping-bar to the forming-cylinder and for adjusting the former in relation to the latter, all arranged and operated substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the forming-cylinder H, provided with end spring-plates g and with split clamping-bar O,- of hooked clamps P, and cams m, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with main shaft D and frame F, of clutch G, collar G fork G spring G and stop G all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose described. 

